CYC Sports

Chris Merris, Big Sol and Alex Hollemeyer               Antjuan Potts, Big Sol and William Bagan

Once again we would like to thank Big Sol, Solomon Alexander and his Sportsmanship Brigade for frequenting CYC fields and spotting sportsmanship in action.  Sol rewards his recipients and we would like to include them in our Random Acts of Sportsmanship award too.  Here are the write-ups from the Sol's Sportsmanship Blog, http://stlsportsmanship.blogspot.com/ :

On May 4th, St. Dominic Savio and St. Francis of Assisi went head-to head in a 5th grade baseball matchup. Kids on both squads are fundamentally sound. Fielding, hitting and base running were very good. Head coaches Chris Merris (St. Dominic) and Alex Hollemeyer (St. Francis) encouraged the kids consistently. They corrected mistakes without demeaning the kids and used nearly every play as an opportunity to teach just a little more about the game. The kids' attitudes were great as well. Their behavior showed that you can play against the other team without being against the other team.

Saturday, May 5th, the Brigade visited a 3rd grade baseball game between St.Sabina and St. Ferdinand. Both teams played good games, but the young umpires caught the Brigade's attention. Antjuan Potts served as the home plate umpire and William Bagan patrolled the infield. Through seven innings of youth baseball in sweltering St. Louis heat, no one argued a call. No one had a terse word about balls and strikes - nothing. The game ran like a well-oiled machine and Potts and Bagan had a firm handle on the controls. These Hazelwood West freshmen showed tremendous competence and confidence. This caused the Brigade to ratify an instant policy change. Usually, only players, coaches and fans are recognized. This was done so it doesn't appear the group is trying to sway the officials. However, these young men put on an umpiring clinic and the Brigade had no choice but to recognize them.

   Connor, Devon and Logan of SMMA          Ava Gaynor and Kaylynn Jones w/ Holy Spirit team                   

Wednesday night, May 10th, saw the Brigade venture to South St. Louis County for a 3rd grade baseball game between St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and St. Joseph - Imperial. The coaches for both squads showed tremendous patience and a willingness to teach the game. They could be seen correcting pitching form or giving pointers on defensive strategy. Youth sports are about fun and it was clear by the laughter on each bench that the score was being kept for administrative purposes only. Just as the Brigade prepared to recognize the head coaches, something amazing happened.

The St. Margaret Mary field has a unique design. Concessions are served underneath a canopy-style structure with very nice benches for fans to sit. It's positioned between the two baseball diamonds and spectators can usually enjoy two games simultaneously. On one side, the St. Margaret Mary boys were playing baseball while the St. Margaret Mary girls played softball on the other. Back to that amazing thing - the ping of an aluminum bat could be heard in the distance and several parents erupted in loud cheers and hand-clapping. Three boys hopped up from the St. Margaret Mary baseball bench to run over and cheer for the girls who were in the midst of a big inning.

When the baseball coach noticed half his bench had left, he smiled briefly but still reminded them, "Boys, we're still playing." That was a display of sportsmanship not often seen from boys. They stopped what they were doing to cheer on the girls. The Brigade changed its call and saw fit to recognize Connor, Devin and Logan of St. Margaret Mary. As a bonus, we called out the boys by number before we learned their names. None of the kids knew their jersey numbers. Each kid had a teammate look on his back to see who we were talking about. This is what youth sports are all about - kids having fun and playing more for the name on the front than the number on the back.

The Brigade paid a Friday night visit to Holy Spirit where the home team took on St. Elizabeth/St. Roberts in a 3rd grade girls softball game. Whether it's softball or baseball, one of the hardest things for kids to do is find the plate when pitching. Walks come in bunches and frustration often sets in on the young athlete. Ava Gaynor and Kaylynn Jones of Holy Spirit didn't allow this to happen on their team. Kalynn would not let her teammate get down on herself after a series of walks. She could be heard cheering, "Let's go!" and "You can do it!" from the bench.  After the inning, the same teammate came back to the bench in tears. That's when Ava stepped in. She slid down to the end of the bench where the young lady was sitting and put her arm around her. Ava whispered words of encouragement and never left her teammate's side. The Brigade recognized Ava and Kaylynn for their tag-team acts of sportsmanship. Saturday's visit was little more than a stone's throw from Holy Spirit when the Brigade descended upon nearby St. Richard for a 2nd grade baseball game between the home squad and St. John Bosco. Sometimes it takes an entire game to see character stand-outs - not so much in this contest.

 
Sherry Gusman, Ty Williams, Sol and Amari Twyman                                                                                   Ty Williams of St. John Bosco and Amari Twyman of St. Richard set themselves apart early on. Amari is St. Richard's universal soldier. While all the players on the youth level switch defensive positions from inning to inning, Amari did it without complaint. He followed his coach's instructions to the letter. Amari encouraged his teammates on the field and was the unquestioned leader when it came to hustle and effort. Ty is an entirely different character, though. During one inning, his coach told him to play shortstop. He sprinted onto the field and yelled, "I've been training to play shortstop my whole life! I love this!" It's funny what 8-year-olds say. His uniform looks much dirtier than Amari's - not because he necessarily played harder - but because he played...harder.

He slid into every base no matter what. Ty slid on slow grounders, doubles down the line and triples in the corner. None of that made him dirty enough, though. He even rubbed dirt on his pant legs before pitches while playing defense. Ty played with the type of reckless abandon we all remember as kids. He was having a blast and encouraged the kids on both teams to have the same kind of fun. Ty and Amari were easy award selections for the Sportsmanship Brigade.

On Saturday, May 12th, as Jacob Benshoff, a 10 year old runner for St. Joan of Arc, was in the middle of the 200 meter race at Bishop DuBourg High School in the CYC Track Meet when he noticed a runner in an adjacent lane had fallen and was not getting up.  Most kids would have jumped over him and kept going, but not Jacob.  He stopped to help this runner from another team.  He wanted to be sure he was alright.  By stopping he lost any chance of finishing at the top of his heat.  What a wonderful display of sportsmanship and compassion.  He may not have won the race, but he is at the top of the heap when it comes to sportsmanship.  Congratulations Jacob.

Kirk Day and Incarnate Word coaches, players and Brigade    Sean Simmons amid Brigade 

Most Friday nights and most Saturdays this spring and summer, you'll catch the Sportsmanship Brigade at a ball field near you. Friday night's tilt was a return engagement to Incarnate Word for a 3rd grade baseball game between the home squad and Kirk Day School. It was a tremendous evening of sportsmanship - so much so that we almost ran out of prizes. We recognized the umpires for their control of the game and the respectful attitudes they displayed toward both teams.

Two Kirk Day players were rewarded for the encouragement they showed toward teammates and opponents throughout the seven inning game. The Incarnate Word player was recognized for encouraging his pitcher when he was struggling as well as cheering for other teammates as they came up to bat. I almost forgot, Kirk Day's coach was rewarded for his outstanding leadership and encouragement of the entire team. He showed the same enthusiasm for the kids whether they hit a double down the line or struck out. This game gave the Brigade a lot to chew on, but we like being busy.

Saturday took us to nearby St. Charles County for a 7th grade baseball game between St. Elizabeth/St. Roberts (SESR) and St. Joseph. One young man from SESR stood out immediately and prominently to the Brigade. Sean Simmons played catcher the entire game. Catcher may be the toughest position to play in baseball. They have to put on almost a suit of armor to even play the position. They get hit in the face by foul tips. Sometimes, the batter overswings and they get hit with bats. Catchers chase balls in the dirt and are responsible for pop-ups behind the plate. All this, and they still have to keep an eye on the guy at first in case he tries to rip-off a base.

So, you may not expect to find a catcher with a stellar attitude. Well, kids often exceed our expectations. Sean is a very good catcher and an even better teammate. He tried his best to settle every pitcher down and motivate them to do their best. When Sean made one or two errant throws, he took responsibility and helped his team maintain its composure. Sean Simmons' play and attitude may be the best kept secret in St. Charles County....well maybe not anymore.

That's a lot of sportsmanship, which is great to see and hear about.  However, we can never have enough.  So if you spot a Random Act of Sportsmanship don't hesitate to let us know.  You can e-mail us at buzzswanston@archstl.org .  Remember it can be a player, coach, official or even fans.  LET US KNOW!
                         

In 2007, the St. Louis community lost a friend when Chris Stahl passed away of pancreatic cancer at age 43. He grew up as a CYC player, then became a CYC official and as a parent a CYC coach and heavily involved in the CYC program at Seven Holy Founders in the South County District. Chris left a wife and five children all under the age of 21. Chris and Mary planned on sending their children to Catholic high schools. The Chris Stahl Memorial Golf Tournament has been raising funds for that purpose since 2007.

Because We Care is a non-profit corporation started to help friends and families of the sports community in times of need. This group could not sit back idly and watch as coaches, officials and their families and friends struggle through the hurdles that life hands out. Because We Care was founded to raise money for various charities and foundations created for these specific cases. Their first event was this golf tournament named after Chris, who was the inspiration for this foundation, and his family will benefit from your support of the tournament.

Please click HERE to view the tournament brochure and find the many different ways you can help, because we care!
 

Basketball playoffs stretched from March 30th through April 15th this year, and fans, coaches, officials and especially the Sportsmanship Brigader caught CYC folks practicing Random Acts of Sportsmanship (RAS) everywhere.  Plus we even have a RAS sighting at a CYC Lacrosse game and at early season baseball games.  Below are brief descriptions...enjoy!

*  St. Norbert's 7th grade boys basketball was in a stretch run trying to make the playoffs.  Head coach Rich Ely awards starting spots in the upcoming game based on how players perform at practice.  At the practice before the last game, Tommy Carpenter had finally earned a starting spot.  During the warm-ups for that last game against Sacred Heart, a much taller team, Tommy went to his coach and said, "I shouldn't be starting...we need our bigger players to start and get more playing time."  He was able to see past his own desire to start the game and look at the bigger picture, what he thought was best for everyone on the team.  Congratulations Tommy, your act of selflessness was great sportsmanship.

*  IC-Dardenne 8th grade girls coach, Matt Beckerdite was a picture of positive encouragement as his team trailed in a tight semifinal match up with St. Clare.  Matt was always encouraging his players, even when they made a mistake or lost the ball.  He was positive in his instructions and kept telling them they could come from behind.  Which they did.  At one point, when a St. Clare player took a charge, #11 (did not get the name) for IC apologized, reached down and helped her opponent up and check to make sure she was OK.

* Officials Jeff Herman and Don Bowe are not only excellent officials, but also do a great job of interacting with the players, coaches and even the fans.  I think their demeanor and conversation head off possible problems before things get too far out of hand.  During a time out of one championship contest, Jeff went over to one of the players young sibling and asked how she was doing, was she enjoying watching her sister, etc.  The officials were part of the game, not adversaries.

*  Bob Springer, coach of the 6th grade boys at Mary Queen of Peace was recognized for his great sportsmanship by the Sportsmanship Brigade.  In a tight overtime championship game, Bob and his team not only displayed good basketball skills, but great composure.  Their opponents were taller, faster and very good shooters.  But the MQP team had a plan, and showed their poise putting it into effect.  There was no yelling at the referees or slamming the ball, or the "who me" expressions when fouls were called.  The whole team displayed class, character and sportsmanship.

*  St. Joseph-Cottleville and MQP met for the 5th grade championship.  The Sportsmanship Brigade found 3 players worthy of RAS recognition.  Matthew Hanson of St. Joe proved you can play hard without having a hard heart.  Late in the game, he committed a foul and knocked an opponent to the ground.  He immediately turned around and help him to his feet and said "Sorry".  MQP players Nicholas Kurz and Andrew Nester were recognized for their enthusiasm, team spirit and encouragement of teammates.

* The Sportsmanship Brigade branched out and attended a CYC girls lacrosse game on Saturday, April 21st.  The Brigade quickly noticed Katie's energy and passion for her teammates. When she entered the game, she hopped off the bench as if she were shot out of a cannon. Katie tapped all of her teammates sticks yelling, "Let's go!" She played hard and kept an almost permanent smile on her face throughout the game. Easily the heart and soul of her team, even Katie's teammates weren't surprised when she was recognized by the Brigade. Maya's recognition, on the other hand, was based on an act of humility and selflessness. A St. Gerard player made an amazing spin move and scored on Maya. This happened late in the game when St. Gerard was building its lead. Rather than stomp away in frustration or throw some sort of tantrum, Maya jogged over to her opponent and said, "That was a good shot" and rejoined her team on offense.  Maya didn't have to acknowledge what happened, but she humbled herself in the face of adversity. The Brigade was impressed with this show of sportsmanship and saw fit to recognize Maya along with Katie.

* Solomon Alexander and his Sportsmanship Brigade decided to check on the youngsters, the really young baseball players, 2nd graders playing at Incarnate Word.  They came across a pair of Twin Oaks players that earned RAS honors.  Solomon wrote:  "When I was in second grade, I fielded more ground balls with my face than my glove. That's not the case with Jack and Christopher of Twin Oaks. These two are great with the glove and their defense was a key component of Twin Oaks' victory. However, they are better teammates than they are players. In second grade, the kids change positions every inning and some kids sit out an inning or two based on the number of players. When it was Jack and Christopher's turn to sub, they didn't just sit on the bench and chew sunflower seeds. The two were cheering, rattling the fence and literally jumping up and down for their Twin Oaks teammates.

They really wanted their teammates to do well. It's not unusual for the Brigade to see teammates cheer for one another. On the other hand, it is rather unusual to see that type of attitude from star players on any level. The Twin Oaks coaches and parents are teaching these boys to be a team and it shows." 

Spring sports are just starting up.  Baseball, softball, lacrosse games, track meets and golf matches are all great places to witness Random Acts of Sportsmanship.  When you see one, drop us a note describing what you saw, so we can share it with the rest of the CYC gang.  Just send it to buzzswanston@archstl.org  Sports are more fun if we are all practice Random Acts of Sportsmanship!    

HELP! I've lost my CYC Card! What do I do? You are in luck! Ordering a new ID card is as simple as clicking the 'Apply for an ID Card' button on the left side of this page.

But my daughter's game is Saturday..will she still get to play? Yes! Once you have applied for the card, you will receive an email confirmation that contains a two week waiver. Print it and bring it to the game.

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